Lyla Dejesus
Princess Diana's wedding dress is arguably the most famous in royal history, with 28.4 million people tuning in to watch her wedding to Charles, Prince of Wales, in 1981. The ivory silk taffeta and antique lace gown, with a 25-foot train and a 153-yard tulle veil, was valued at £9,000 at the time, equivalent to $43,573 in 2023. But what did it sell for? In her will, Diana bequeathed the gown to her sons, Princes William and Harry, who inherited it in 2014. They have since loaned it out for exhibitions, including at Kensington Palace in 2021.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Designer | David and Elizabeth Emanuel |
| Date of wedding | 29 July 1981 |
| Train length | 25 feet |
| Veil length | Cathedral-length |
| Cost | $115,000 at the time of the wedding; $400,000 today |
| Current owner | Princess Diana's sons, Princes William and Harry |
| Back-up dress | Made from ivory silk taffeta, without the antique lace, and embroidered with scalloped details along the hemline and sleeves |
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What You'll Learn
The cost of Princess Diana's wedding dress
Princess Diana's wedding dress is arguably the most famous royal wedding dress in history. It was designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, a husband-and-wife duo, and was first worn when Diana married Charles, Prince of Wales, in 1981. The dress was made of ivory silk taffeta and antique Carrickmacross lace, which had belonged to Diana's great-grandmother-in-law, Queen Mary. It featured intricate embroidery, thousands of sequins, and over 10,000 pearls, with some arranged in a heart motif on the bodice. The dress also included an 18-karat gold horseshoe charm and a small blue bow sewn into the waistband for good luck and as Diana's "something blue". The gown was valued at the time at £9,000, equivalent to approximately $43,573 in 2023 dollars. Adjusted for inflation, the dress would cost around $400,000 today, with some estimates placing it at over $490,000.
The dress was so influential that it set wedding fashion trends after the wedding. Large puffed sleeves, full skirts, and soft touch fabrics became popular, with copies available within hours of the wedding. It was considered a "gold standard" in wedding fashion for years to come. Mariah Carey, for example, commissioned a wedding dress inspired by Diana's for her marriage to Tommy Mottola in 1993.
The Emanuels also designed a backup wedding dress for Diana, which featured a different design in case the initial design was leaked to the press. This dress was made from ivory silk taffeta without the antique lace and was embroidered with scalloped details along the hemline and sleeves. Tiny pearls were sewn onto the bodice, and the dress was valued at approximately $114,800 at the time. However, this dress has since disappeared, and its whereabouts are unknown.
Princess Diana's wedding dress has since been displayed at various exhibitions. In 2021, it was loaned by her sons, Princes William and Harry, to Kensington Palace for the "Royal Style in the Making" exhibition. The dress continues to be a source of fascination for many, with its influence on bridal fashion still evident today.
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The dress's design and materials
Princess Diana's wedding dress was designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, a husband-and-wife duo from Wales. The gown was crafted from ivory silk taffeta and antique Carrickmacross lace, which had previously belonged to Diana's great-grandmother-in-law, Queen Mary. The fabric was sourced from British mills, as is royal tradition.
The dress featured intricate details, including hand embroidery, sequins, and over 10,000 pearls adorning the waistline, hem, and 25-foot-long train, which broke royal wedding records. The bodice was fitted and boned, with some pearls arranged in a heart motif. The silhouette of the dress included a Romantic-style full skirt and large puffed sleeves with lace flounces on the neckline and cuffs.
The Emanuels also designed a matching ivory silk tulle veil, which featured mother-of-pearl sequins and was held in place with a diamond tiara from the Spencer family collection. The veil was cathedral length, measuring 153 yards, and the train and veil together were the longest ever worn at a royal wedding.
The dressmakers also created a parasol to match the gown in case of rainy weather, as well as a pair of handmade ivory silk slippers adorned with 542 sequins and 132 pearls in a heart-shaped design. The soles were hand-painted with the initials 'C' and 'D' for Charles and Diana and featured a kitten heel.
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The dress's influence on bridal trends
Princess Diana's wedding dress is arguably the most famous royal wedding dress in history. With its record-breaking 25-foot train, the ivory silk taffeta and antique lace gown, designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, helped solidify Diana's status as a fashion icon and set trends for years to come.
The intricate details and embellishments of the dress also left their mark on bridal trends. The 10,000 pearls, sequins, and hand embroidery adorned throughout the waistline, hem, and train of Diana's gown inspired bridal designers and elevated the level of detail seen in wedding dresses. The inclusion of "something old," in the form of antique lace that once belonged to Queen Mary, also added a sentimental touch that many brides sought to incorporate into their own ensembles.
The dress's iconic status and influence extended beyond the realm of fashion. When Princess Diana walked down the aisle in 1981, an estimated 750 million people in 74 countries tuned in to witness the fairytale moment. The immense media coverage and public fascination with the dress contributed to its enduring legacy.
Even decades later, Princess Diana's wedding dress continues to captivate and inspire. In 2021, the dress was displayed as part of the "Royal Style in the Making" exhibition at Kensington Palace, attracting new generations of admirers. The enduring appeal of the dress and its influence on bridal trends is a testament to its place in fashion history.
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The backup dress
Princess Diana's wedding dress is arguably the most famous in royal history. The ivory silk taffeta and antique lace gown, with its 25-foot train and 153-yard tulle veil, was valued at £9,000 at the time of her wedding to Charles, Prince of Wales, in 1981. Today, it would be worth approximately $400,000 to $490,000.
However, what many people don't know is that Diana also had a backup wedding dress. Designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, the same designers who created her iconic gown, the spare dress was made from pale ivory silk taffeta with embroidered scalloped details on the hem and sleeves. It shared some features with the main dress, including a V-neck, three-quarter sleeves, and a wide skirt. Tiny pearls were sewn onto the bodice, and it is estimated that the gown was worth $114,800 at the time of its creation.
The main wedding dress became one of the most closely guarded secrets in fashion history, and its emergence on Diana's wedding day was a highly anticipated moment. The gown set wedding fashion trends, with its large puffed sleeves, full skirt, and soft touch fabrics becoming popular requests. It has been displayed in recent years, including at Kensington Palace's "Royal Style in the Making" exhibition in 2021.
Princess Diana's wedding dress, with its intricate details and global impact, continues to be a source of fascination and inspiration for brides-to-be around the world. The backup dress, though less well-known, showcases the meticulous planning and attention to detail that went into the royal wedding.
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The dress's owners
Princess Diana's wedding dress is currently owned by her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, who inherited it in 2014. In 2021, the brothers loaned the dress to Kensington Palace, where it was displayed as part of the "Royal Style in the Making" exhibition.
Prior to this, the dress was displayed at Althorp House, where Princess Diana is buried. The Emanuels, the designers of the dress, also created a duplicate version that was exhibited at Madame Tussauds. Additionally, there was a second wedding dress with a different design, which has since disappeared.
Princess Diana's wedding dress is considered one of the most famous dresses in the world and has been described as "the most closely guarded secret in fashion history." The ivory silk taffeta and antique lace gown, with a 25-foot train and a 153-yard tulle veil, was valued at approximately $115,000 at the time of her wedding to Charles, Prince of Wales, in 1981. Today, the gown would be valued at around \$400,000.
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Frequently asked questions
The dress was valued at £9,000, which is equivalent to approximately $43,573 in 2023.
The dress was made of ivory silk taffeta and antique lace.
The dress was designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel.
The dress featured thousands of hand-embroidered sequins and pearls, with an 18-karat gold horseshoe charm stitched in for good luck. It also had a 25-foot train, the longest ever seen at a royal wedding.
Princess Diana bequeathed the dress to her sons, Princes William and Harry. They loaned it out for exhibition in 2021 as part of Kensington Palace's "Royal Style in the Making" show.
